Differences between Fungi and Lichen:
We are surrounded by millions of organisms ranging from unicellular, multicellular, eukaryotic, prokaryotic, etc. Some of these organisms can survive alone as Fungi, or some live in a symbiotic association where they benefit each other, such as Lichens. Lichens are composed of two different organisms- fungi and algae.
The present article will provide detailed information about fungi and lichens. We will study all characteristics which include definition, structure, mode of nutrition, conditions for growth, reproduction, and importance. In the end, we will study the differences between them.
Many questions have been asked about their characteristics and differences in competitive exams.
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Definitions
Fungi are simple heterotrophic organisms that can survive independently. Examples
- Mushroom, Albugo, Rhizopus,
etc.
Nearly 20% of known fungal species are associated with lichens.
Lichens are dual organisms-fungus and algae that live in
symbiotic associations. Both organisms live together and benefit each other in survival. Its fungal part is called a
mycobiont
(Ascomycete and Basidiomycete), and the algal part is called a
phycobiont
. Algae prepare food by photosynthesis and transfer some of it to fungi, whereas fungi provide nutrients and minerals to algae.
Examples-Iceland moss, dog lichens, beard lichen, etc. Till now, about 13,500–17,000 lichen species have been identified.
Lichens cover around 6–8% land surface of the earth. Theophrastus gave term lichen.
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Structure:
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms consisting of cell walls. The cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose and chitin. Their upper non-reproductive part is called the fruiting body (umbrella-like structure in mushrooms).
Their lower body is filamentous ( except yeast), consisting of long, slender thread-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae form a network called mycelium. Mycelium can be continuous or have septate in its cell walls.
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Lichens consist of the thallus, which is made up of filaments called hyphae. These hyphae form a mesh. This mesh can be loose or dense and surround the algal cells. The dense mesh of fungus above and below the algae is known as the upper and lower cortex, respectively. The loose filaments present between the cortex are called the medulla.
They are plant-like but are not exactly plants. Unlike plants, they lack roots to absorb water and minerals but can prepare their food by photosynthesis. Their branches may be leafless (fruticose, example-
usnea
) or may contain flat leaf-like (foliose, example-
Parmella
) structures. They may grow like crust or be found as thick coats of paint (crustose, example-
graphis
) on any surface. They may also appear like powder (leprose).
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Mode of nutrition:
Fungi show the heterotrophic mode of nutrition. They are saprophytes as they obtain their nutrition from dead and decaying organic matter. For example- the black spot on decaying bread is fungi. They are also found as parasites, for example-white, spots on mustard leaves. These white spots are fungus. Lichens show symbiotic associations. Like fungi, they are not parasites.
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Conditions for growth:
Fungi grow in warm and humid conditions. For example-of, fruits are kept outside for long in warm and humid conditions, and they start developing fungus over them. Another example is bread mold.
Lichens can grow in barren rocks, cooled volcanic lava, san dunes, window panes, plants, soil surfaces, bones, etc. Most abundantly grow on surfaces of bark, leaves, etc. They also might be found hanging on branches as epiphytes in the rainforest and temperate woodland. They can tolerate extreme desiccation but can’t tolerate pollution due to sulfur dioxide.
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Are they colorful?
Both fungi and lichens are colorful, consisting of colorful spores and pigments. For example-yellow, pigment usnic acid gives different colors to lichens like red, orange, yellow, etc.
Mode of reproduction:
Fungi show three types of reproduction- vegetative, asexual, and sexual. Vegetative reproduction takes place by fragmentation, budding, and fission. Asexual reproduction takes place by spores like conidia, sporangiospores, and zoospores. Sexual reproduction takes place through the fusion of two haploid hyphae. Sexual reproduction is absent in artificial fungi called fungi deuretomycetes.
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Lichens reproduce by four methods-progressive death and decay, fragmentation, isidia, and soredia. Isidia are outgrowth on lichens that break down and can form new ones. Soredia are microscopic propagules that are dispersed by air currents. When they fall on any substratum, they give rise to new lichen. Both isidia and soredia consist of a few algal cells surrounded by fungal cells.
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Importance:
Some of the important fungi use are as follows:
-
Yeast helps the manufacture of alcohol and the brewing industry.
-
Penicillin
helps in the formation of antibiotics.
-
Trichoderma
is a soil fungus used as a biocontrol agent.
-
Mushrooms, toadstools, morels, and truffles are used as delicacies.
-
Neurospora
is used for genetic research.
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Some important use of
lichens
are as follows:
-
They are the first organism that arrives on the substratum (cliff, mountains, barren rocks, etc.) and eventually forms plants.
-
Certaria is used as food in Iceland.
-
Orcein is used as a biological stain obtained from
Rocella tinctoria
.
-
They are used as perfumes. For example-
Ramalina
and
Evernia
etc.
-
Usnea
and
Cladonia
are used as antibiotics.
-
They are used as pollution indicators.
